Scone Spy: Edinburgh vegan and gluten-free specialists Naked Bakery

It’s true what they say: you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

However, when it comes to the Scone Spy’s favourite teatime treats, apparently you don’t need eggs, milk, butter or animal products of any kind to ensure a fluffy rise and the perfect crumb.

On a recent visit to the capital, I popped into Naked Bakery, a lovely little cafe that specialises in vegan and gluten-free baked goods, from cupcakes and slices of red velvet to macarons and, of course, plump scones.

As I entered the bright and colourful dining room – complete with Instagram-able faux flower wall and neon signs – the display case, filled with mouth-watering delights, instantly caught my eye.

I momentarily considered asking for an extra large variety bag to take away but my stomach was growling for something a little more substantial.

Sadly, no, carrot cake doesn’t count towards one of your five-a-day, so I collected the menu and settled myself at a comfy corner table.

The choice was really quite extensive, covering everything from sandwiches and waffles to pancakes and smoothie bowls, but I decided to keep things simple and opted for a BLT – and prayed the B didn’t stand for bread! Luckily, when my plate arrived (after a short wait, but the friendly staff were rushed off their feet), I was very pleasantly surprised.

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Thick toasted slices of sourdough were jam-packed with faux bacon rashers, crisp lettuce and juicy tomato, all topped with pink mayonnaise. Yes, pink! It tasted delicious, and certainly put a smile on my face So I’ve come to the conclusion that more everyday foods should have fun colours.

I was similarly jubilant when finally tucking into the scone de résistance, too. Light and tasty, it fared better than some of the butter-filled scones I’ve had in my long career, which is quite a testament to the chef.

If every vegan establishment was as creative and talented as the, ahem, Naked team, I would happily chomp away on only animal-friendly cakes for the rest of my days. But, for now, I’ll settle for a return visit.